Registrar of Voters Department
Frequently Asked Questions
E-Mail Elections/Voter Registration for questions not listed below:
- What should I do if I think my Vote-by-Mail ballot may not arrive on time by mail?
- What should I do if I cannot return my Vote-by-Mail ballot myself, and it is too late to send it in the mail?
- If I lose the Vote-by-Mail ballot sent to me, can I get another one?
- I am out of the country and the mail is slow. Can I apply earlier than the normal 29 days?
- Can I apply for a permanent Vote-by-Mail if I have a medical disability?
- If I request a Vote-by-Mail ballot, can I change my mind and vote at my regular polling place?
- Are there circumstances under which a voter can be required to vote by mail?
- 1. What should I do if I think my Vote-by-Mail ballot may not arrive on time by mail?
- You may come in person to the Election/Voters Registration Office at 212 No. San Joaquin St. in Stockton and drop it off any time before election day between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m..
On election day, you may return a Vote-by-Mail ballot to the Election/Voters Registration Office or any polling place in San Joaquin County between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.. - Back to Top
- 2. What should I do if I cannot return my Vote-by-Mail ballot myself, and it is too late to send it in the mail?
- You may authorize a relative (spouse, child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, brother or sister, someone living in household) to return your ballot. Friends or neighbors cannot return it for you. Be sure to complete the authorization box at the top of the return envelope. The name of the person returning the ballot and your signature authorizing them must be on the return envelope for the ballot to be counted.
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- 3. If I lose the Vote-by-Mail ballot sent to me, can I get another one?
- Yes. Call the San Joaquin County Election/Voters Registration Office at (209) 468-2890 and a second ballot will be sent to you. You must sign the statement sent to you with the second ballot that you have lost or did not receive your Vote-by-Mail ballot. You may also go to your regular polling place or to the Election Department and vote a provisional ballot.
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- 4. I am out of the country and the mail is slow. Can I apply earlier than the normal 29 days?
- If you state on your application that the mail is slow or difficult in the country that you are in and you need to receive the Vote-by-Mail ballot earlier than 29 days before an election, you may receive a special Vote-by-Mail ballot that can be sent out as early as 60 days prior to an election.
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- 5. Can I apply for permanent Vote-by-Mail status if have a medical disability?
- State Law now allows anyone to become a Permanent Vote-by-Mail Voter.
- More information on Permanent Vote-by-Mail status.
- Permanent Vote-by-Mail Ballot Application(PDF)*
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- 6. If I request a Vote-by-Mail ballot, can I change my mind and vote at my regular polling place?
- Yes, but you must surrender your Vote-by-Mail ballot with the envelope and give it to the polling place worker before voting a regular ballot.
- If you are unable to surrender your Vote-by-Mail ballot, you may still cast a provisional ballot at your polling place which will not be counted until it can be determined that you have not also voted by Vote-by-Mail ballot.
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- 7. Are there circumstances under which a voter can be required to vote by mail?
- Yes there are circumstances under which a voter can be required to vote by mail. If a precinct has fewer than 250 registered voters on the 88th day before an election, that precinct can be declared by the elections official to be a "Mail Ballot Precinct". All Mail Ballot voters will be notified approximately 25 days in advance of their status prior to being sent an official Vote-by-Mail ballot.
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